Swage Connector Device, Assembly and Method

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of a swage connector device and assembly include one or more of a sealing ring, a fastening ring spreader, a retainer grip ring, a cap member and a fastener push ring. The fastener push ring moves axially and engages the fastening ring spreader in order to securely maintain a piping element held within the fitting.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 17/321,798, filed on May 17, 2021, which is herebyincorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to fluid, refrigerant and gas flowsystems, and more particularly to a push-to-connect joint assembly,device and method that facilitates the simple connection, disconnection,repair and re-use of piping and tubing system parts without welding,soldering or brazing.

BACKGROUND

Piping systems exist to facilitate the flow of fluids (e.g., liquid, gas(such as air) or plasma). For example, homes, schools, medicalfacilities, commercial buildings and other occupied structures generallyrequire integrated piping systems so that water and/or other fluids canbe circulated for a variety of uses. Liquids and/or gases such as coldand hot water, breathable air, glycol, compressed air, inert gases,cleaning chemicals, waste water, plant cooling water and paint andcoatings are just some examples of the types of fluids and gases thatcan be deployed through piping systems. Tubing and piping types caninclude, for example, copper, stainless steel, CPVC (chlorinatedpolyvinyl chloride) and PEX (cross-linked polyethylene). For purposes ofthe present disclosure, the term “pipe” or “piping” will be understoodto encompass one or more pipes, tubes, piping elements and/or tubingelements.

Piping connections are necessary to join various pieces of pipe and mustbe versatile in order to adapt to changes of pipe direction required inparticular piping system implementations. For example, fittings andvalves may be employed at the ends of open pieces of pipe that enabletwo pieces of pipe to fit together in a particular configuration. Amongfitting types there are elbows, “tees”, couplings adapted for variouspurposes such as pipe size changes, ends, ball valves, stop valves, andpartial angle connectors, for example.

For heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) environments,including HVAC deployments involving a central air conditioner, aservice valve area can include various ports to facilitate variousconnections to the air conditioner unit. For example, refrigerationcompressors often include a suction service valve and a dischargeservice valve. These are used to allow refrigeration gauges to beattached to the system and, in various designs, to isolate thecompressor from the rest of the system. In many cases, service valveshave a stepped or swaged profile and current connection techniques arenot satisfactory.

In the past, pipe elements including pipes and HVAC service valves havebeen connected by brazing, welding and/or soldering them together usinga torch. Brazing pipe fittings can be time-consuming, unsafe, and laborintensive. Brazing also requires employing numerous materials, such ascopper pipes and fittings, emery cloths or pipe-cleaning brushes, flux,silver solder, a soldering torch and striker, a tubing cutter and safetyglasses, for example. The process for brazing pipes can proceed by firstpreparing the pipe to be brazed, as the copper surface must be clean inorder to form a good joint. The end of the pipe can be cleaned on theoutside with emery cloth or a specially made wire brush. The inside ofthe fitting must be cleaned as well. Next, flux (a type of paste) can beapplied to remove oxides and draw molten solder into the joint where thesurfaces will be joined. The brush can be used to coat the inside of thefitting and the outside of the pipe with the flux. Next, the two pipesare pushed together firmly into place so that they “bottom out”, i.e.,meet flush inside the fitting. The tip of the solder can be bent to thesize of the pipe in order to avoid over-brazing. With the pipes andfitting in place, the torch is then ignited with the striker or by anauto-strike mechanism to initiate brazing. After heating for a fewmoments, if the copper surface is hot enough such that it melts whentouched by the end of the solder, the solder can then be applied to thejoint seam so that it runs around the joint and bonds the pipe andfitting together. Once the joints are brazed, the systems can be cleanedand purged with an inert material.

In different environments, press connection of fittings around pipes andHVAC service valves has been employed, whereby a fitting is positionedaround a pipe or service valve and a wrench, press gun or otherpressure-applying device is used to press the fitting around the pipe orservice valve. Such press connections result in permanent connectionsthat cannot be undone without complete destruction of the connection andparts.

In recent years, push-fit technology has been employed with pipingsystems to reduce the dangers and time involved in brazing joints and toprovide a connection that can be disassembled and/or undone. Withpush-fit connections, no wrenches, clamping, gluing, brazing orsoldering is involved. Nevertheless, traditional push-fit connectionsare not well adapted for an environment with a stepped or swaged pipeprofile as with many HVAC air conditioner service valve designs.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides, in part, a swage connector device,assembly and method that facilitates the re-use of push fittings withoutdamage to the fitting internal elements, the fitting or the pipe.Embodiments of the present disclosure can be connected using no tools,clamps, brazing or glues, while creating a leak-free seal at theconnected joining area.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a swage connectorassembly including one or more of a sealing ring, a fastening ringspreader, a retainer grip ring, a cap member and a fastener push ring.

Embodiments of the device and assembly provided as part of the presentdisclosure employ a fastener push ring that moves axially and engagesthe fastening ring spreader in order to securely maintain a pipingelement held within the fitting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded front perspective view of a swage connectorassembly in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a device in accordance with embodiments of thepresent disclosure in an installation environment.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a swage connector assembly inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a fitting body in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a right side view of the fitting body of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the fitting body taken along theline 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of a fastening ring spreader inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a right side view of the fastening ring spreader of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the fastening ring spreader takenalong the line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a retainer grip ring inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a front view of the retainer grip ring of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a right side view of the retainer grip ring of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of a cap member in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a front view of the cap member of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a right side view of the cap member of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the cap member taken along the line16-16 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a left front perspective view of a fastener push ring inaccordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 18 is a right front perspective view of the fastener push ring ofFIG. 17.

FIG. 18 is a front view of the fastener push ring of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a left side view of the fastener push ring of FIG. 17.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the fastener push ring taken alongthe line 20-20 of FIG. 19.

FIGS. 21-23 are different perspective views of a fastening ring spreaderenjoined with a fastener push ring in accordance with embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 24 is a left side view of a fastening ring spreader enjoined with afastener push ring in a first position in accordance with embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 25-25 of FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is an enlarged view of encircled portion 26-26 of FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a left side view of a fastening ring spreader enjoined with afastener push ring in a further position in accordance with embodimentsof the present disclosure.

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 28-28 of FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is an enlarged view of encircled portion 29-29 of FIG. 28.

FIG. 30 is a front view of a locking clip in accordance with embodimentsof the present disclosure.

FIG. 31 is a right side view of the locking clip of FIG. 30.

FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view of a swage connector assembly in afirst position in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 33 is an enlarged view of encircled portion 33-33 of FIG. 32.

FIG. 34 is an enlarged view of encircled portion 34-34 of FIG. 33.

FIG. 35 is an enlarged view of encircled portion 35-35 of FIG. 33.

FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view of a swage connector assembly in afurther position in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 37 is an enlarged view of encircled portion 37-37 of FIG. 36.

FIG. 38 is an enlarged view of encircled portion 38-38 of FIG. 37.

FIG. 39 is an enlarged view of encircled portion 39-39 of FIG. 37.

FIG. 40 is a front view of a swage connector assembly in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 41 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 41-41 of FIG. 40.

FIG. 42 is an enlarged view of encircled portion 42-42 of FIG. 41.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The presently disclosed subject matter now will be described more fullyhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some,but not all embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter areshown. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. The presentlydisclosed subject matter may be embodied in many different forms andshould not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein;rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure willsatisfy applicable legal requirements. Indeed, many modifications andother embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which thepresently disclosed subject matter pertains having the benefit of theteachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associateddrawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the presently disclosedsubject matter is not to be limited to the specific embodimentsdisclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended tobe included within the scope of the appended claims.

For purposes of the present disclosure, the term “tube”, “pipe”,“piping”, “conduit”, “conduit element” or “piping element” will beunderstood to encompass one or more pipes, tubes, conduits, pipingelements and/or tubing elements, and may be used interchangeably.Further, for purposes of the present disclosure, a fitting can encompassa valve member and other piping elements including, but not limited to:a coupling joint, an elbow joint, a tee joint, a stop end, a ball valvemember, tubing and other objects having substantially cylindricalopenings. Further, for purposes of the present disclosure, a fitting(also referred to as a fitting body, a body member or main bodycomponent) can encompass a valve member and other piping elementsincluding, but not limited to: a coupling joint, an elbow joint, a teejoint, a stop end, a ball valve member, tubing and other objects havingcylindrical openings.

In various embodiments, one or more sealing member gasket inserts (e.g.,sealing ring members) fit within a sealing ring compartment defined inand/or machined into the interior surface of the fitting. In addition,at each pipe receiving end of the fitting, a pipe support compartment ismachined into the interior to retain at least a portion of the packingarrangement. The fitting interior is formed to provide integratedsupport for the sealing member(s) and fastening ring when opposing forceis applied to piping elements that have been inserted into the fitting.In various embodiments, a fastener push ring facilitates connection anddisconnection of piping elements. Other methods, devices andarrangements associated with the present disclosure are describedherein.

It will be appreciated that reference to “a”, “an” or other indefinitearticle in the present disclosure encompasses one or more than one ofthe described element. Thus, for example, reference to a sealing ringmay encompass one or more sealing rings, reference to a latch mayencompass one or more latches, and so forth.

According to embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 through 42, a swage connectordevice 10 can be adapted for deployment with a swaged or stepped pipe19, such as a pipe of a service valve 111 for an air conditioner unit,for example. The swage connector device 10 includes a fitting (i.e.,fitting body) 20 having an interior surface 25 and an exterior surface27, wherein the interior surface 25 defines an interior cavity 100extending along a fitting axis A. The fitting body 20 can be formed witha tube stop 11 extending radially inwardly from the interior surface 25and separating the interior surface 25 into a first segment 35 and asecond segment 37, wherein the first segment 35 of the interior surfacecomprises an axially inner portion 12, an axially outer portion 15, afirst axially intermediate portion 13 and a second axially intermediateportion 14. The first segment 35 can be secured around the swaged areaof a pipe (e.g., 19 in FIG. 2) and the second segment 37 can house apacking arrangement that facilitates connection to an external pipe.Example packing arrangements for the second segment 37 are known andprovided by Quick Fitting Holding Company, LLC of Warwick, R.I. Invarious embodiments, the second segment 37 is formed with a secondsegment axially inner portion having a second segment axially innerportion radial depth that is less than the axially inner portion radialdepth of the first segment. Further, the second segment axiallyintermediate segment can have a second segment axially intermediateradial depth that is less than a first axially intermediate portionradial depth of the first axially intermediate portion 13 of the firstsegment 35.

As shown in FIG. 6, the axially inner portion 12 extends from a base 110of the tube stop 11 axially outwardly from the tube stop to a ledge 16,wherein the ledge 16 extends radially outwardly from the axially innerportion 12 to a first portion floor 130 of the first axiallyintermediate portion 13, wherein the first axially intermediate portion13 extends from the ledge 16 axially outwardly to a retaining nub 17.The retaining nub 17 extends radially inwardly from the first portionfloor 130 of the first axially intermediate portion 13 to an axiallyextending plateau 170, such that the retaining nub 17 has an axiallyinner radially extending wall 171 and an axially outer radiallyextending wall 172. The plateau 170 can have a plateau radial depthequal to or less than the axially inner portion radial depth.

In various embodiments, radially extending wall 172 extends radiallyfurther than radially extending wall 171, thus providing second axiallyintermediate portion 14 with a radial depth that is larger than theradial depth of first axially intermediate portion 13. The secondaxially intermediate portion 14 extends axially outwardly along a secondportion floor 140 from the radially extending wall 172 to the axiallyouter portion 15. The axially outer portion 15 can be formed with athread 150 to facilitate connection with the cap member 28 as describedelsewhere herein. Between the thread 150 and the second portion floor140, a radially outwardly extending retention slot 39 is formed forreceiving the retainer grip ring 26 and an angled wall 205 can beprovided for adequate moving space for the retainer grip ring 26 duringoperation as described elsewhere herein. In various embodiments, theexterior surface 27 of the fitting 20 is formed with a radially inwardlyextending slot 29, which can receive a locking clip 32 as describedelsewhere herein.

As shown in FIG. 1, the swage connector device 10 includes one or moresealing rings 22, a fastening ring spreader 24, a retainer grip ring 26,a cap member 28 and a fastener push ring 30. The swage connector device10 can further including a locking clip 32 in various embodiments. Thesealing ring(s) 22 can be formed of rubber and can be positioned withinthe first axially intermediate portion 13 of the fitting interior 25.Elements 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30 can be considered the packing assembly380 in accordance with the present disclosure.

As shown in FIGS. 7 through 9, the fastening ring spreader 24 can beformed as a ring-shaped body 240 having a circular-shaped outer surface241 and an interior surface 242 with one or more notches 244 extendingradially inwardly from the interior surface 242. The fastening ringspreader 24 includes an axially inner face 246 and an axially outer face248 and can further be formed with one or more latches 249 extendingaxially outwardly from the axially outer face 248. In variousembodiments, the latches 249 are formed with a radially inner face 250and a radially outer face 252, wherein the radially inner face 250extends only axially outwardly from the axially outer face 248 whereasthe radially outer face 252 extends axially outwardly and radiallyinwardly from the axially outer face 248. In various embodiments, theradially inner face 250 is formed so as to extend axially across theinterior surface 242 of the fastening ring spreader 24, as shown in FIG.9. The axial extension of the radially inner face 250 facilitates smoothand even engagement with a swaged pipe whereas the axial and radialextension of the radial outer face 252 facilitates smooth engagementwith the fastener push ring 30, as described elsewhere herein.

As shown in FIGS. 10 through 12, the retainer grip ring 26 is formedwith a substantially ring-shaped retainer base 260 having radially inner262 and radially outer 264 surfaces, with one or more teeth 265extending radially inwardly from the radially inner surface 262. Theretainer grip ring 26 can be formed with a split 266, in variousembodiments, to facilitate insertion and removal from the fitting 20.The retainer grip ring base 260 further includes a first face 267 and asecond face 268, wherein the teeth 265 extend slightly axially outwardlyon the second face 268 side of the retainer base 260.

As shown in FIGS. 13 through 16, the cap member 28 is formed with a head280 and body 281, wherein the body 281 includes a body interior surface282 and a body exterior surface 283, wherein the body exterior surface283 can include a thread 284 and/or 288, an axially extending clipreceiving surface 285 and an axially extending grip ring receivingsurface 286. The grip ring receiving surface 286 is bounded by radiallyoutwardly extending interior 287 and exterior 289 walls, which limit theaxial sliding engagement of the retainer grip ring 26 during operation.In various embodiments, the thread includes a first thread 284 formedaxially between the head 280 and the axially extending clip receivingsurface 285, and a second thread 288 formed axially between the axiallyextending clip receiving surface 285 and the axially extending grip ringreceiving surface 286. A radial lip 279 can be provided at the axiallyouter edge 290 of the cap member 28. In various embodiments, the head280 has a tapered internal surface 291 and a substantially cylindricalinternal surface 292 that is aligned and has the same radial depth asthe body interior surface 282. As shown in FIG. 16, the cap member bodyinterior surface 282 forms an opening 275 extending axially through thecap member 28 along a cap axis 277. In various embodiments, the bodyinterior surface 282 has a staggered radial depth, so as to include anarrower first interior surface portion 293 and a wider second interiorsurface portion 295. The narrower first interior surface portion 293 canbe considered the primary axial segment and the wider second interiorsurface portion 295 can be considered a secondary axial segment of thebody interior surface 282. In various embodiments, the primary axialsegment 293 extends radially outwardly from the cap axis 277 less thanthe secondary axial segment 295 extends radially outwardly from the capaxis 277. As described elsewhere herein, the primary axial segment 293engages the body radially outer surface 303 of the fastener push ring 30whereas the secondary axial segment 295 has a greater radial depth toaccommodate the latch extensions 330 and teeth 308 of the fastener pushring 30.

A radially extending wall 294 is formed between the first interiorsurface portion 293 and the second interior surface portion 295 and anaxially outer end wall 298 extends radially outwardly from the secondinterior surface portion 295. The radial extending wall 294 can engagethe latch extension(s) 30 for support during operation. An angled wallsurface 299 at the radially exterior portion of the axially outer endwall 298 provides a retainer grip ring 26 engaging surface when the capmember 28 is being installed with the fitting 20 as described elsewhereherein.

As shown in FIGS. 17 through 20, the fastener push ring 30 can beprovided with a substantially ring-shaped body 301 with a radially innersurface 302 and a radially outer surface 303. The body 301 can besplayed axially and radially outwardly at a first axial end 305 and canbe provided with spreader engaging teeth 308 at a second axial end 306.In various embodiments, the teeth 308 are formed as pairs 315 separatedby a tooth gap 310, wherein each pair 315 of teeth 308 is separated by apair gap 312. In various embodiments, each pair 315 can include a pairbase 320 extending axially and radially outwardly from the radiallyouter surface 303 at the second axial end 306 to an apex 322, whereinthe teeth 308 extend axially outwardly and radially inwardly from theapex 322, with a tooth gap 310 separating each of the teeth 308 in thepair as the teeth 308 extend axially outwardly and radially inwardlyfrom the apex 322. The pairs 315 of teeth 308 as separated by the pairgaps 312 provides a forked leading edge 325, and in various embodiments,the teeth 308 extend radially inwardly of the radially inner surface 302of the body 301. The forked leading edge 325 provides connector elementsthat interact with mating elements of the fastening ring spreader 24during operation as disclosed elsewhere herein.

In further embodiments, the radially outer surface 303 of the body 301is formed with latch extensions 330 extending from the body 301. Thelatch extensions 330 can include a first segment 333 extending axiallyand radially outwardly of the radially outer surface 303 to a pinnacle332, and a second segment 334 extending axially outwardly and radiallyinwardly of the pinnacle 332. The radially outer surface 303 is formedwith a gap 335 between the second segment 334 of the latch extension 330and an axially distant edge 336 of the radially outer surface 303 of thebody 301. The latch extensions 330 interact with the cap 28 andunderlying pipe during operation as disclosed elsewhere herein. Invarious embodiments, the fastener push ring 30 is formed with a split340 to facilitate insertion into the cap 28 during operation.

FIGS. 21 through 29 show interaction between the fastening ring spreader24 and the fastener push ring 30. As shown in FIGS. 21 through 23, thelatches 249 of the fastening ring spreader 24 are aligned withrespective tooth gaps 310 of the forked leading edge 325 of the fastenerpush ring 30. The further the latches 249 extend into the tooth gaps310, the more pressure is applied to the tooth outer edges 338, therebyopening the teeth 308 wider to accommodate axial movement of the device10 around a swaged pipe during operation. For example, as shown in FIG.24, teeth 308 extend radially inwardly to a radial depth D as thefastening ring spreader 24 is being inserted and are expanded to alarger radial depth E as shown in FIG. 27 once the latches 249 of thefastening ring spreader 24 act to open up the teeth 308. The pair gaps312 provide room for the teeth pairs 315 to flex back and forth duringoperation.

As shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, the locking clip 32 is provided with aspine 345 and two legs 352. Each leg 352 can be formed with a convexupper segment 353, a concave middle segment 354 and a convex lowersegment 355 to facilitate interoperation with the slot 29 on theexterior surface 27 of the fitting 20.

FIGS. 32 through 42 depict interaction of the various components of theswage connector device and assembly during operation. As shown therein,the swaged pipe 19 is mated with the swage connector device 10 includingthe packing assembly 380 at one end corresponding to the first segment35 of the interior surface 25 of the fitting 20. The swaged pipe 19 isshown to expand from an interior surface 73 having a first radial depthalong a swaged portion 75 to an interior surface 77 having a secondradial depth larger than the first. A separate packing arrangement 400can be inserted into the second segment 37 of the interior surface 25 ofthe fitting 20.

The sealing ring(s) 22 are inserted into the first axially intermediateportion 13 of the interior surface 25 of the swage connector device 10.The fastening ring spreader 24 is inserted into the cavity 100 such thatthe axially inner face 246 of the fastening ring spreader 24 abuts theaxially outer radially extending wall 172 of the retaining nub 17 of thefitting 20. The retainer grip ring 26 is inserted into the cavity 100 soas to be retained by the retention slot 39 of the fitting 20.

The fastener push ring 30 is inserted in the cap member 28 such that theradially outer surface 303 of the fastener push ring 30 engages the bodyinterior surface 282 of the cap member 28. The fastener push ring 30 andcap member 28 may slidingly engage to a degree between the first axialend 305 of the fastener push ring and the spreader engaging teeth 308 atthe second axial end 306. The second thread 288 of the cap member 28engages the thread 150 of the fitting 20. As the cap member 28 istightened to the fitting 20, the retainer grip ring 26 may slightly bendagainst angled wall 299 of the cap member 28 toward an angled wall 205of the fitting and then snap over the angled wall 299 into the axiallyextending grip ring receiving surface 286 between walls 287 and 289. Theretainer grip ring 26 is then maintained within the axially extendinggrip ring receiving surface 286 of the cap member 28. In the initiallyengaged position where the retainer grip ring 26 is closer to theradially outwardly extending exterior wall 289, it will be appreciatedthat the axially outer end wall 298 of the cap member 28 does not yetengage pair base 320 of the fastener push ring 30 and the radiallyextending wall 294 of the cap member 28 does not yet engage latchextensions 330 of the fastener push ring 30. It will further beappreciated that, during installation, the cap member 28 with insertedfastener push ring 30 can be slid over a swaged pipe 19 so as to bepositioned around the narrower portion of the pipe 19 corresponding tothe surface 73 of smaller radial depth, as illustrated in FIGS. 33 and37, for example. The fitting 20 with inserted elements 22, 24 and 26 canthen be positioned against cap member 28 and threadedly connected.

As shown in FIG. 38, as the cap member 28 and fitting 20 are furthertightened together, the elements reach a further engaged position wherethe retainer grip ring 26 is closer to the radially outwardly extendinginterior wall 287, where the axially outer end wall 298 of the capmember 28 engages pair base 320 of the fastener push ring 30 asindicated at contact point 350 and the radially extending wall 294 ofthe cap member 28 engages latch extensions 330 of the fastener push ring30 as at 360. In this position, the latch extensions 330 and the toothouter edges 338 engage the pipe 19 to securely retain the swageconnector device 10 against the swaged pipe 19. Further, the contact andsupport of the cap member 28 at points 350 and 360 further maintains thepressured hold of the fastener push ring 30 on the pipe 19 so that thedevice 10 does not slip or move in relation to the pipe 19. It will beappreciated that connection point 360 is at a first radial distance fromthe axis A and connection point 350 is at a second, larger radialdistance from the axis A, thereby providing holding force at differentradial locations adapted to the shape of the swaged pipe 19. Once inthis position, the locking clip 32 can be applied by placing the legs352 around the device 10 such that the clip 32 slides into place in thenow axially aligned axially extending clip receiving surface 285 of thecap member 28 and the radially inwardly extending slot 29 of the fitting20.

When the device 10 is to be removed, the locking clip 32 is manuallyremoved such as by lifting the clip 32 by the spine 345. The fitting 20can then be unscrewed from the cap member 28 and fitting 20 withcomponents 22, 24 and 26 removed. It will be appreciated that asubstitute fitting 20 can be paired with the existing cap member 28 andfastener push ring 30 when the original fitting 20 is removed. Further,once the fitting 20 is removed, the cap member 28 with fastener pushring 30 can be slid off of the swage pipe 19.

The disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the disclosure beingindicated by the claims of the application rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

1. A device, comprising: a fitting body comprising an interior surfacedefining an interior cavity, wherein the interior surface comprises anaxially inner portion, an axially outer portion, a first axiallyintermediate portion and a second axially intermediate portion, whereinthe first axially intermediate portion extends from a ledge axiallyoutwardly to a retaining nub, wherein the retaining nub extends radiallyinwardly from the first axially intermediate portion, wherein the secondaxially intermediate portion extends from the retaining nub axiallyoutwardly to the axially outer portion, wherein the axially outerportion comprises a thread; at least one sealing ring maintained withinthe first axially intermediate portion; a fastening ring spreadermaintained within the second axially intermediate portion; a retainergrip ring maintained within the axially outer portion; a cap membercomprising a head formed with a body, wherein the body comprises a bodyinterior surface and a body exterior surface, wherein the body exteriorsurface comprises an axially extending grip ring receiving surface, anda fastener push ring slidably engaged with the cap member body interiorsurface.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the fastener push ring isengageable with the fastening ring spreader.
 3. The device of claim 1,wherein the fitting body comprises an outer surface, wherein the fittingbody is formed with a slot extending radially outwardly through theaxially outer portion of the interior surface of the body and whereinthe cap member body exterior surface further comprises an axiallyextending clip receiving surface.
 4. The device of claim 3, furthercomprising a locking clip removably maintainable within the slot of thefitting body outer surface and the axially extending clip receivingsurface of the body exterior surface of the cap.
 5. The device of claim1, wherein the retainer grip ring is maintained within the axiallyextending grip ring receiving surface of the cap member.
 6. The deviceof claim 1, wherein the cap member body interior surface forms anopening extending axially through the cap member along a cap axis,wherein the cap member body interior surface comprises a primary axialsegment and a secondary axial segment, wherein the fastener push ring isslidably engageable with the primary axial segment of the body interiorsurface.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein the primary axial segmentextends radially outwardly from the cap axis less than the secondaryaxial segment extends radially outwardly from the cap axis.
 8. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the fastener push ring comprises a forkedleading edge, wherein the fastening ring spreader comprises aring-shaped body and a plurality of lift surfaces extending axiallyoutwardly from the body, wherein upon axial pressure being applied tothe fastener push ring, the plurality of lift surfaces engage the forkedleading edge of the fastener push ring and lift the forked leading edgeradially outwardly.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the fastening ringspreader is formed with a latch extension extending axially outwardlyfrom an axially outer face of the fastener push ring.
 10. The device ofclaim 9, wherein the latch extension is formed with a radially innerface and a radially outer face, wherein the radially inner face extendsaxially outwardly from the axially outer face and wherein the radiallyouter face extends axially outwardly and radially inwardly from theaxially outer face.
 11. A device, comprising: a fitting body comprisingan interior surface defining a cavity extending axially through thefitting body, wherein the fitting body further comprises a first segmentcomprising an axially inner portion, an axially outer portion and firstand second axially intermediate portions, wherein the axially innerportion comprises an axially inner portion radial depth, wherein thefirst axially intermediate portion comprises a ledge extending radiallyoutwardly from the axially inner portion, a sealing ring engaging floorextending axially outwardly from the ledge and a retaining nub extendingradially inwardly from the sealing ring engaging floor to a plateau,wherein the plateau comprises a plateau radial depth equal to or lessthan the axially inner portion radial depth, wherein the second axiallyintermediate portion extends axially outwardly from the retaining nub tothe axially outer portion, wherein the exterior surface is formed with aslot extending radially outwardly through the axially outer portion ofthe interior surface of the body.
 12. The device of claim 11, whereinthe first axially intermediate portion comprises a first axiallyintermediate portion radial depth, wherein the second axiallyintermediate portion comprises a second axially intermediate portionradial depth, and wherein the second axially intermediate portion radialdepth is greater than the first axially intermediate portion radialdepth.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the first axiallyintermediate portion radial depth is greater than the axially innerportion radial depth.
 14. The device of claim 11, wherein the fittingbody interior surface comprises a tube stop separating the first segmentof the fitting body from a second segment, wherein the second segmentcomprises a second segment axially inner portion comprising a secondsegment axially inner portion radial depth that is less than the axiallyinner portion radial depth of the first segment.
 15. The device of claim14, wherein the second segment further comprises a second segmentaxially intermediate segment comprising a second segment axiallyintermediate radial depth that is less than a first axially intermediateportion radial depth of the first axially intermediate portion of thefirst segment.